Innlegg på Sudan/Sør-Sudan-forum

Mr.  Chair, 

Norway warmly welcomes the agreement reached today in Addis Abeba. We commend the political courage and leadership shown by both parties, and the crucial role of AU and the AUHIP led by President Mbeki in facilitating the process.  Want to use this occasion to congratulate AU Chairman Ping and Chairman elect Madame Zuma.

The Summit between the two Presidents marked the final stage of the long and complex negotiations. We are very pleased that the parties have signed agreements on oil, citizenship, border demarcation, border monitoring and economic cooperation. This creates the basis for positive bilateral relations in the years to come, and proves the will to reach political solutions for two sustainable states.

We note however that there are still important outstanding issues. We urge the parties to reach agreements also on these issues as soon as possible.

Your most important job now is to implement the agreements. A real commitment to work things out in in a practical and pragmatic manner is vital to ensure success in the next phase. As you progress you will build much needed security, stability and trust, and provide the basis for economic development and financial stability for both states.

Implementation and follow-up mechanisms are essential in order to do this. The deployment of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mission is a matter of urgency. It is equally important to restart oil production in South Sudan as it will have economic benefits for both countries.

As a dedicated member of the international community, Norway ready to assist you, and in the critical oil sector we are ready to provide technical assistance for the rapid establishment of monitoring mechanism.
 

The AU has led the international engagement so far, and we are confident that it will remain seized as you now enter the implementation phase. No one is better placed to assist you in implementation and follow up than the African Union.

The implementation of the agreement will be followed closely by the world community. We have shown seriousness in in our pursuit to assist you to come to peace, and to come to an agreement. We will pursue the implementation with equal seriousness.

Mr. Chair, let me turn to another issue which also has a prominent role in UNSCR 2046 - the humanitarian situation in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile.

The situation is critical; hundreds of thousands of people are suffering -- this cannot continue any longer.

We therefore call on the Government of Sudan to grant full, safe and immediate international humanitarian access, and in cooperation with the Tripartite Group to implement the MoU and the action plan without further delay.

It is possible to move forward on the basis of cooperation, and in a manner that respects the sovereignity of the Sudan.